DIY Outdoor Patio Shade

One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is sit on my back porch with a cup of coffee and check out the coupon inserts read the paper.  It is so relaxing and peaceful.  But this time of year we run into a slight annoyance, the sun!

For a specific time period in the morning, the sun pierces between the neighbors roof and our patio roof.  It is very strong and usually requires sun glasses.  My husband, the vampire, will burn in like 5 minutes, so he won’t even come out there with me till it has risen more.  Some may say, “and that’s a problem because…….?” LOL  But seriously, I enjoy our time together, so I knew it was time to solve the problem.  I priced the shades at the local hardware store and $80+ was not in the budget for a non necessity.

Last year I picked up several grass beach mats on clearance at Walmart for under $1 each.  I took the mats to the local craft store with intent to find some pretty ribbon and some how figure out how to attach them together. I found some pretty burgundy ribbon and my calculations showed I’d need 4 rolls at a cost of $3.97 per roll.  EKK!  Cause you know being an FSU Alumni, this color appeals to me!  I walked around with the ribbon in my cart and I brainstormed an idea of how to attached them together, then I spotted this display!

Yup, you guessed it, that’s decorative duct tape!  I picked up a roll that almost matched the ribbon and starting thinking, WOW this would be awesome, and frugal!  And solve my dilemma of how I was going to attach them.   Not to mention I’d only need one roll.  If you can see in the picture they have all sorts of colors, patterns and even sheets of duct tape.  If they had the matching color in a sheet I would have gotten one and cut out a monogram for the mats.

So I took my roll of duct tape and my 40% off coupon to the register.  Where I paid about $3 for the duct tape and a few extra dollars for some wooden dowels to secure to the bottom for some weight.  I got home and laid out the mats and dowels.

I duct taped each mat together and then added tape on the sides for decoration.  I rolled up the bottom a little and taped on the back and inserted dowels.  I ran to the local home improvment store to look for something to hang it with.  I found a few flower hooks and then I purchased a long piece of PVC that would fit in the hooks.  I taped the top up and secured the pipe inside.

So what do you think?  Does it look like Duct tape?   Here is another picture of it during the high sun part of the morning.

There are a few things I’d do differently next time.  Because you know you always learn by doing.

1) Maybe use bamboo mats next time.  The grass seams a bit fragile and the wind off our lake is already reeking havoc on it.
2) Come up with a better way to roll the shade up when we don’t need it or a storm is coming.

But for now I’d say under $15 for this project will do!